After BBC announced that it wouldn't renew Clarkson's contract, British network ITV is reportedly interested in hiring him.
- Mar 26, 2015
AceShowbiz - "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson is officially losing his job. BBC has announced that it wouldn't renew his contract, which is expiring at the end of the month, following a "fracas" with a producer.
"It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract," BBC director general Tony Hall said in a statement. "It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon."
"I know how popular the program is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved," he added. "The BBC must now look to renew 'Top Gear' for 2016. This will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise. I have asked [BBC Two controller] Kim Shillinglaw to look at how best we might take this forward over the coming months. I have also asked her to look at how we put out the last programs in the current [season]."
BBC suspended Clarkson from "Top Gear", after it was reported that he punched a male producer, while the network was conducting an internal investigation. The summary of the investigation read, "It was not disputed by Jeremy Clarkson or any witness that Oisin Tymon was the victim of an unprovoked physical and verbal attack. It is also clear ... that Oisin Tymon is an important creative member of the 'Top Gear' team who is well-valued and respected."
"He has suffered significant personal distress as a result of this incident, through no fault of his own," the summary also revealed. "The physical attack lasted around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness," and "the verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion - both during the attack and subsequently inside [a] hotel - and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him."
Clarkson hosted the original "Top Gear" from 1988 to 2000 and took on the same duty when the show was resurrected in 2002. He had been caught in trouble several times, including when he used N-word while filming the show last year. BBC boss Danny Cohen gave him "last warning" last year.
Clarkson, however, may soon find another job as The Hollywood Reporter says that ITV considers to hire him, though sources note that there haven't been any talks between the two. Sky, broadcaster Channel 4, Netflix and other TV companies allegedly also show interests to hire Clarkson.
